NEWS
Flood Destroys Anambra Multi-billion Naira Farm, 25,000 Birds Die
Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
A devastating flood incident in Anambra has resulted in the closure of a multi-billion naira automated farm and the loss of over 25,000 birds. The Matuuci Farms Limited, situated in the Agbobo Umuoga Ossomala community within the Ogbaru region of Anambra, had to halt its operations due to extensive property damage.
The flood disaster, which wreaked havoc on the property, led to the demise of more than 25,000 birds in the poultry section.
Additionally, the farm’s potato fields, fish ponds, and other crop sections bore the brunt of the catastrophe.The proprietor of Matuuci Farms Limited, Dr. Patrick Sule-Ugboma, conducted a tour of the impacted facilities for journalists on Wednesday.
He revealed that approximately 400 employees have been instructed to cease their work.Ogbaru, a community located along the River Niger coastline, frequently contends with flooding, making the situation all too familiar for residents. Sule-Ugboma lamented the substantial financial losses his company has incurred due to the flood’s destructive force. The farm, spanning 20 hectares, witnessed substantial losses not only in poultry but also in fish and other valuable properties.
“We have lost more than 25,000 poultry birds, fish in our ponds worth several million naira, and numerous other properties worth several million naira were destroyed by the flood,” Sule-Ugboma remarked.
Furthermore, Sule-Ugboma highlighted that the flood has compromised certain bridges along the Onitsha-Ndoni road, particularly drawing attention to the Umunnakwo bridge. It’s noteworthy that the collapse of the same Umunnakwo Bridge in the previous year led to a tragic boat mishap that resulted in multiple fatalities.
Sule-Ugboma underscored the peril faced by residents and travelers due to the collapse of bridges on the Ogbaru-Ndoni road. This predicament has forced people to rely on makeshift wooden boats for river crossings.
Seizing the opportunity, he urgently called upon both the Anambra State Government, under Governor Charles Soludo’s leadership, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to intervene and assist the beleaguered Ogbaru communities.
“I am calling on Governor Charles Soludo to look into the plights of our people especially with the menace of perennial flooding hitting Ogbaru communities again. I also call on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to consider the construction of the Onitsha-Ndoni road now in a deplorable state,” he appealed.
Sule-Ugboma said he was disappointed over the insufficient efforts by successive state and federal governments to provide adequate road infrastructure in Ogbaru, Delta, Imo, and Rivers regions, despite these areas playing a pivotal role in agriculture and contributing substantially to the national economy.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of Ogbaru communities as well as communities in Delta, Imo, and Rivers, and inspite of their contributions to our economy, the people have been subjected to undue neglect by successive state and Federal Governments,” Sule-Ugboma concluded.
NEWS
Bauchi SSG, Ibrahim Kashim Resigns
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Ibrahim Kashim with immediate effect.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity in Bauchi on Friday.
According to Gidado, Mr Aminu Gamawa, the Chief of Staff, Government House has been directed to take over from him with immediate effect in an acting capacity.
“Governor Bala Mohammed has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ibrahim Kashim with immediate effect .
“The Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Mr Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from him in an acting capacity.
“Governor Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, thanked him for the services he rendered to the State and wished him well in his future endeavors,” said Gidado.(NAN)
NEWS
FG Directs Houses, Land Owners in Lagos to Pay Ground Rent
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, on Friday, urged owners of Federal Government owned lands and houses in Lagos State to remit their ground rent to the government’s coffer.
Dangiwa said this during a stakeholder- citizens engagement on land administration and a physical assessment of Banana Island, Osborne Phase one and two, Park view/ Foreshore estates and shorelines.
He said that the ministry planned to optimise its revenue collections by ensuring that all the occupiers of Federal Government’s asset pay their ground rent to enable it improve on the facilities.
According to him, while the Federal Government is committed to renovating, safeguarding and optimising the value of its assets nationwide, it will also enforce strict compliance to its land and estates administration laws.
Dangiwa said that the Ministry of Housing under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, had resolved to restore order in federal land and asset management.
“The Ministry is resolved to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the law regarding the control and administration of its assets to maintain order,” he said.
The minister directed the estate associations to stay within their limits, noting that they have the right to collect facility management fees based on agreement with the occupants of the estates.
He warned that whatever the occupants agreed to pay should be used to maintain the estates in terms of electricity, roads and all other facilities they use in the estate.
“This is known to be the facility management fees which all estates usually charge in order to maintain the estate, but they should not go beyond that to collecting ground rent from the occupants.
“The ground rent is meant for the Federal Government.
“If they are collecting it on our behalf, they should remit it fully, otherwise we are going to engage our own staff to do it or engage consultants to do so on our behalf,”he said.
On the need for collaboration between the ministry and the Lagos state government in resolving land disputes, the minister said that both parties had agreed to form a joint committee.
He said that the committee was expected to resolve longstanding land issues and foster a coordinated approach to land administration across the state.
He said that the federal and Lagos state governments were in talks to harmonise payment of tax on its assets and land administration, to address double taxation on owners of the Federal Government estates and lands.
“We are one government, and it is vital that we work as partners to ensure effective administration of Federal Government assets.
“Proper coordination will prevent exploitation by third parties and ensure compliance with the law,”he said.
Dangiwa said that the stakeholder engagement on land administration provided an opportunity to share insights and contribute to the Federal Government’s strategy for sustainable urban development.
He also said that the interactive session was a critical step toward improving land administration in Lagos, and delivering on the ministry’s promise of affordable housing and urban development for all Nigerians.
He said the ministry was ready to address the myriad challenges affecting the estate and land owners, having understood their needs, concerns and areas for improvement.
The Minister expressed concern over the poor condition of federal assets and uncompleted housing projects, vowing to expedite their renovation, upgrade, and completion.
“We have resolved to optimise these facilities and put them to good use so that they can provide value to the government and Nigerians.
“Our aim is to fast-track the completion of housing projects to increase the stock of affordable housing for Nigerians in Lagos,”he said.
According to him, plans are underway to transform the Ministry of Housing field offices into modern, functional workspaces to boost staff productivity and enhance operational efficiency in Lagos.
Addressing irregular developments along the Lagos shoreline, Dangiwa reiterated the Federal Government’s authority over shoreline titles.
He warned developers who failed to comply with legal requirements of appropriate sanction.
“To curb these practices, the ministry issued a one-month ultimatum for all developers on shorelines to regularise their papers or risk having their properties revoked and demolished.
“We have observed numerous haphazard developments along the shoreline, where people have reclaimed and built on land without proper clearance or authorisation. This is unacceptable,” Dangiwa said.(NAN)
NEWS
FAAC: FG, States, LGs Share N1.727 Trillion November Revenue
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.727 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and Local Government Councils (LGCs) for November.
This is contained in a communiqué issued after the FAAC meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the communiqué, the N1.
727 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N455. 354 billion.It also comprised distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N585.
700 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.046 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N671.392 billion.The communiqué indicated that total gross revenue of N3.143 trillion was available in the month of November.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N103.307 billion, while total transfers, interventions, and refunds was N1.312 trillion,” it said.
It said that gross statutory revenue of N1.827 trillion was received for the month of November.
“This is higher than the sum of N1.336 trillion received in the month of October 2024 by N490.339 billion.
“Gross revenue of N628.972 billion was available from the VAT in November. This was lower than the N668.291 billion available in the month of October by N39.318 billion ” it said.
The communiqué said that from the N1.727 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received the total sum of N581.856 billion, and the state governments received N549.792 billion.
“The LGCs received the sum of N402.553 billion, and a total sum of N193.291 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N455.354 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N175.690 billion, and the state governments received N89.113 billion.
It said that the LGCs received N68.702 billion, and the sum of N121.849 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
“From the N585.700 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N87.855 billion, the state governments received N292.850 billion, and the LGCs received N204.995 billion.
“A total sum of N2.257 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.046 billion EMTL. The state governments received N7.523 billion, and the LGCs received N5.266 billion,” it said.
It said that in November, Oil and Gas Royalty and CET Levies recorded significant increases, while Excise Duty, VAT, Import Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax, Companies Income Tax, and EMTL decreased considerably. (NAN)